Wetland Management District · Minnesota · FWS Region 3

Windom Wetland Management District Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Windom Wetland Management District is located in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, with about 17,913 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 2 mapped hunt units: 1 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 17,831 huntable acres.

1 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
2hunt units
17.8Khuntable acres
17.9KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Windom WMD hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Windom WMD

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing.

Protecting habitat in a 12-county area of southwestern Minnesota historically known for large concentrations of waterfowl, Windom WMD also offers a variety of hunting experiences on its wetlands and grasslands.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Minnesota regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (2)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 17,831 (100%)Closed: 78 (0%)17.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations17,831 ac 100%
  • Closed78 ac 0%
Units by size (acres)
WPA Open
17,831 ac
Worthington WPA
78 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
WPA Open
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 17,831 —
Worthington WPA
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 78 —

Windom WMD by the numbers

With about 17,831 huntable acres, Windom WMD ranks #9 of 19 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Minnesota and #124 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is WPA Open (17,831 acres, special regulations).

1 unit totaling 78 acres is closed to hunting (Worthington WPA). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 17,913 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 4,441 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

6 Waterfowl Production Areas lie within 35 miles; the closest is Wolf Lake WPA (494 acres, 1 miles W).

When to hunt Windom WMD

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Minnesota sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Minnesota hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Windom WMD

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Fishing opportunities on Windom Wetland Management District are very limited due to the seasonal water levels in this prairie region.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Windom WMD

Navigate

Destination: Windom Wetland Management District (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
43.85780, -95.08666
DMS
43°51′28.1″N 95°05′12.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Windom, MN1.9 mi SE of town
  • Spencer, IA50 mi N of town
  • Marshall, MN54 mi SE of town
  • Mankato, MN58 mi W of town

Closest airports

  • FSD Sioux Falls Regional85 mi
  • MSP Minneapolis–St. Paul116 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Windom WMD

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:12 AM6:42 AM7:58 PM13h 16m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM7:33 PM12h 35m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:46 AM7:16 AM7:03 PM11h 47m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM6:38 PM11h 06m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:25 AM6:55 AM5:12 PM10h 17m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM4:56 PM9h 42m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:04 AM7:34 AM4:45 PM9h 11m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:17 AM7:47 AM4:43 PM8h 56m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:24 AM7:54 AM4:52 PM8h 58m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:21 AM7:51 AM5:06 PM9h 15m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:08 AM7:38 AM5:28 PM9h 50m

Computed for 43.858, -95.087 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Waterfowl Production Areas managed by Windom WMD

This district manages 81 named WPAs totaling 17,763 acres of walk-in public land. The largest are listed below; each links to its county guide with a satellite map and directions.

WPACountyAcres
Sioux Forks WPAJackson County1,002
Big Slough WPAMurray County812
Martin J. Baker WPACottonwood County716
Slaughter Slough WPAMurray County641
Timber Lake WPAJackson County532
Wolf Lake WPACottonwood County494
Goose Creek WPAFreeborn County474
Storden WPACottonwood County442
Mason WPAMurray County436
Boot Lake WPAJackson County435
Halls Lake WPAFreeborn County410
Watonwan River WPACottonwood County357
Pilot Grove Lake WPAFaribault County339
Holy Trinity WPAJackson County317
Giese WPAMurray County317
Clear Lake WPACottonwood County317
Minnesota WPAJackson County316
Cottonwood Lake WPACottonwood County310
Des Moines River WPACottonwood County309
Christiania WPAJackson County302
Twin Lake WPAFreeborn County300
Bhagyam WPAFreeborn County281
Two Island WPAFreeborn County269
Pierce Lake WPAMartin County267
Bloom WPANobles County257

Showing the 25 largest of 81. All tracts are on the map above and in the KML download.

Guides for hunting Windom WMD

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Windom WMD FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Windom WMD?

Yes. Windom Wetland Management District offers hunting in 1 unit (17,831 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Windom WMD?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Windom WMD. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Windom WMD?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Windom WMD located?

Windom Wetland Management District is in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, about 2 miles SE of Windom, MN (straight-line). GPS: 43.85780, -95.08666.

What are legal shooting hours at Windom WMD?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Iowa WMD

Kossuth County, IA · 63 mi SE

1 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

27.5K huntable acres

Union Slough NWR

Kossuth County, IA · 63 mi SE

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

2.8K huntable acres

Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR

Lincoln County, MN · 64 mi NW

1 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

6.7K huntable acres

Minnesota Valley WMD

Le Sueur County, MN · 83 mi NE

2 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

8.7K huntable acres

Litchfield WMD

Meeker County, MN · 88 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

38.6K huntable acres

Madison WMD

Lake County, SD · 99 mi W

1 open1 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🎣

44K huntable acres

Waterfowl Production Areas within 35 miles

All refuges in Minnesota →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.